Quick question about harness

[Renee]

Is it better to have the breast collar strap going over the neck or back to the saddle waterhook? I've always just gone over the neck, but see many photos of it going back to the waterhook. Opinions?

Renee

 

[RhineStone]

Attaching the breastcollar strap to the waterhook is a show ring thing meant to "clean up" the neck of the horse, not for the comfort of the horse. Those harnesses are (or should be) designed to accept the angle of the breastcollar strap from the breastcollar itself. Your average pleasure harness should not be tacked up this way, as it will "pull funny" on the breastcollar.

The exception is that there are some harnesses that have a strap that runs from the breastcollar strap to the waterhook, so that the breastcollar strap stays in place. I have not found that I needed that strap on my horses though.

Myrna

 

[Renee]

The reason I asked is I have the carriage harness from Ozark with the V breast collar and the pictures on their website show the neck strap going back to the water hook...I am so confused

Renee

 

[RhineStone]

At the risk of torquing someone off, my guess is because they are marketing that harness as being able to suit all worlds. You will notice that the CDE show harness is not tacked up that way.

 

[Renee]

Thanks Myrna...that makes sense...I'll keep doing it the way I always have. Nice to have a forum to discuss driving.

Renee